Chuck for centrifugal casting machines



' March 21, 1933- L. A. CAMEROTA I 1.9023

CHUCK FOR CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINES 7 Filed Nov. 23, 1931 INVENTOR: oazs/iamavm,

Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS A. CAIIEBOTA, OI BUBLm'C-TON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER 117001), OF

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA CHUCK FOB CENTRIFUGAL CASTING MACHINES Application filed November 23, 1931. Serial No. 576,725.

My invention relates to centrifugal casting machines wherein cylindrical flasks are dr ven by a motor or other prime mover while molten metal is admitted to the flask for the casting of pipe or like articles, and more particularly the invention relates to a chuck used as the coupling member by which the driving shaft of the motor or prime mover is connected to the rotatable flask. .The object of my invention is to provide a chuck of this nature characterized by simplicity of manufacture, reliability of operation and adaptability to flasks of varying sizes.

Other objects and advantages characterizing my invention will become more fully ap parent from the description hereinafter of one embodiment or example thereof, the de-. scription having reference to the accompanying drawing. Of the drawing:

. *ig. I represents a side elevation of a centrifugal casting machine embodying a chuck of my invention.

Fig. II represents a cross-section of the same, taken as indicated by the lines 11-11 of Fig. I.

Fig. III represents a perspective view of the chuck shown in Fig. I; and,

Fig. IV represents a perspective view of the chuck spacer shown in Fig. I.

In the drawing, there is shown a centrifugal casting machine comprising a prime mover in the form of a motor 1, a speed reducer 2, and a. cylindrical pipe flask 3. The

' motor 1 and speed reducer 2 are mounted on a base plate 4 which in turn rests upon the foundry floor 5. The cylindrical pipe flask 3 is disposed in axial alignment with the driving shaft 6 and is mounted in bearings 7 having rollers 8 between which machined shoulders 9 of the flask are accommodated. To admit the flask 3 to the centrifugal casting sta-.

14. On the driving shaft 6 a chuck 15 is mounted and rigidy secured by means of a spacer 16, shown in detail in Fig. IV, and bolts 17. The chuck 15, as shown in Figs. II and III, is in the form of a flat plate having two oppositely directed arms 18 and 19. One such arm has bolted thereto a counterweight 20. The other such arm 19 'is provided with a jaw 21 which is adjustable radially in a slot 22 and which may be secured at the desired radius from the axis of the driving shaft 6 by bolts 23.

- The jaw 21 is in the form of a hook having its outer end projecting toward the driving shaft- 6 and having its central portion 24 shaped to conform to the shape of the flange 13 on the flask 3. While fitting over the flange 13, the jaw 21 is not actually clamped to the flask with a locking connection. The jaw 21 engages a bolt 25 or like projection passing through a perforation 14in the flanged end of the flask. Accordingly, when the motor is operated, rotary motion is transmitted from the driving shaft 6 through the chuck 15 and its jaw 21 to the bolt 25, and hence transmitted to the flask 3 which is in axial alignment with the driving shaft. Thecounterweight 20 serves to balance the arm 19 which carries the jaw 21 and hence prevents undue vibration. 7

With a chuckof the character described, it will be apparent that a flask 3 may be rolled intothe centrifugal casting station, with the chuck turned to the position shown in Fig. I, in such manner that'the flask is automatically engaged by the chuck without further work on the part of the operator. The flask 3 is restrained, by means of the shoulders 9 thereon which are accommodated between the pairs of rollers 8, against lateral 'movement, and it is maintained in alignment with the axis of the driving shaft by the position of the bearings which may be adjustable in vertical relation to the floor to take care of flasks of varying sizes. a

' From the abovedescription it will be noted that the chuckof this invention is very inexpensive to manufacture and yet performs its intended function efliciently, and without requiring any labor on thepart of the operator in connection with the coupling of the flask preparatory to its spinning movement, the flask bein self-seating in the chuck. The removal of 518 flask from the machine is accomplished with equal facility.

While I have described a particular form of chuck and a particular form of flanged end for a flask, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the shape of these parts without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a centrifugal casting machine, in-

eluding a prime mover having a driving shaft, andbearings for rotatably supporting a cylindrical flask in axial alignment with said driving shaft; a chuck forconnecting the driving shaft to an end of the flask, said chuck comprising an arm projecting radially from said driving shaft, and a jaw on said arm in the form of a hook'having its end projecting toward said driving shaft, said jaw being adapted to extend around the end of the flask and to engage a projection thereon to transmit rotary movement to the flask.

2. In a centrifugal casting machine, including a prime mover having a driving shaft, a cylindrical flask havin a flange at the end thereof, and bearings or rotatably supporting said flask in axial alignment with said driving shaft; a chuck for connecting the driving shaft to the flanged end of the flask, said chuck comprising an arm projecting radially from said driving shaft, and a radially adjustable jaw on said arm in the form of a hook having its end projecting toward said driving shaft, said jaw being adapted to extend around the flanged end of the flask and to engage a projection thereon to transmit rotary movement to the flask.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Florence, New Jersey, this 16th day of November, 1931.

LOUIS A. GAMEROTA. 

